We still have a way to go to find AI’S place in classroom
No one plans to be a non-traditional student, but stepping away from college and returning years later has given me a unique perspective. The story of how I got here isn’t all that important, but what is notable is that the students in my classes are more than a decade my junior. Also key is that I am finishing my degree online. This is not a new format for me personally, but the landscape has changed since the last time I was enrolled in online courses (when they were colloquially called “distance learning”). Upon my return to higher education, I wasn’t particularly worried about my new peers — I was one of those kids >> and it doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago.
I’m not sure whether I was more shocked that my fellow students were using AI to write discussion posts and papers, or that it took me several weeks into class to realize it. I was struck by the depth of simple discussion posts, the advanced vocabulary and professionalism of the writing. Then I realized that there was something missing and the words of my peers were flat and lacking in anything resembling personality. That I was so oblivious to the widespread use of AI made the gap between Gen Z and Millennials even wider than I thought it could be.
As with all ethical dilemmas, there are infinite viewpoints, but to narrow it down to pro and con is a good place to start. Proponents argue that AI fosters innovation and provides personalized assistance. Students can receive feedback and support based on their individual learning needs and this can potentially bridge the gap between students with varying levels of proficiency in a subject.
Critics argue that the use of AI for tasks like writing papers blurs the line between authentic learning and plagiarism. Becoming overly reliant on AI could weaken essential skills such as research, critical thinking and writing. Beyond the walls of a specific subject, learning is intrinsically valuable. Over my scattered years in academia, the abstract taught me conciseness, the word count taught me persistence, the works cited page taught me patience and having points off for the wrong margins taught me humility.
A recent survey by Study.com shed light on the prevalence of students using AI, particularly CHATGPT. The study notes that “Over 89% of students have used CHATGPT to help with a homework assignment” and “53% had it write an essay.” These statistics may be alarming to those who feel this kind of AI use is cheating. Associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Ethan Mollick, has adopted a new policy that requires students to use CHATGPT, saying “The truth is, I probably couldn’t have stopped them even if I didn’t require it,” according to NPR. The use of AI in education doesn’t seem to be declining anytime soon, prompting new conversations within academic institutions.
The recent strikes by auto workers and teachers, underscore the power of collective action in challenging the status quo. Just as workers have organized strikes to demand fair wages and better working conditions, students and educators may mobilize around ethical AI use in education. In fact, AI has already surfaced as a concern for the Writers Guild of America, which went on strike in May 2023. The LA Times noted, “At a moment when the prospect of executives and managers using software automation to undermine work in professions everywhere loomed large, the strike became something of a proxy battle of humans vs. AI.” In the context of education, a potential social movement could push for greater transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of AI technologies. Advocating for a larger focus on digital literacy could help students navigate the complexities of the digital age responsibly.
Looking deeper, I wonder if the temptation to use is AI due to a problem in how young students are, or rather aren’t, motivated and inspired to find an area of study that they are passionate about? Or is the flaw that we have become so preoccupied with the future that we have forgotten about the past? It’s important to keep in mind that AI pulls from eons of human intelligence. I stand committed to the view that artificial will never be better than the real thing.
Melissa Whitman is a student at CU.